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Virgin Galactic Spacecraft Makes First Solo Flight

Private spacecraft on course to take paying passengers to space

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2010 4:04 AM CDT | Updated Oct 11, 2010 4:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – The world's first manned commercial spacecraft has reached a major milestone. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo was released from the mothership and completed its first solo glide flight over the Mojave Desert yesterday, Wired reports. The craft, which is undergoing rigorous testing ahead of plans to carry paying customers to space and back, landed safely at the Mojave Air and Space Port after being released at 45,000 feet.

"It's a very big deal," Virgin president Richard Branson said. "The sky is no longer the limit, and we will begin the process of pushing beyond to the final frontier of space itself over the next year." Branson says he expects the first passenger flights to suborbital space to begin within 18 months. Some 80,000 people have placed their names on the waiting list for seats, which are expected to cost around $200,000.

The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo is released from the mothership, WhiteKnight2, over the Mojave, desert yesterday.
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo is released from the mothership, WhiteKnight2, over the Mojave, desert yesterday.   (AP Photo/Clay Observatory for Virgina Galactic, Mark Greenberg)
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo glides toward the earth on its first test flight after release from the mothership, WhiteKnight2 over the Mojave desert yesterday.
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo glides toward the earth on its first test flight after release from the mothership, WhiteKnight2 over the Mojave desert yesterday.   (AP Photo/Clay Observatory for Virgina Galactic, Mark Greenberg)
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, glides toward the earth on its first test flight after release from the mothership, WhiteKnight2, over the Mojave, Calif., area.
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, glides toward the earth on its first test flight after release from the mothership, WhiteKnight2, over the Mojave, Calif., area.   (AP Photo/Clay Observatory for Virgina Galactic)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
DanoSD
Oct 11, 2010 9:58 PM CDT
I'm a little worried (and I know you are too) about the guy who always votes every story as "Hilarious". Maybe he wandered off somewhere and got lost, or worse.
JoeQ
Oct 11, 2010 12:12 PM CDT
This thing doesn't even start to get into orbit. Orbital speed is Mach 30. It just shoots way up into the stratosphere and then comes right back down again in a nearly ballistic trajectory. Fun maybe, but hardly a spacecraft.
DontLikeYou___
Oct 11, 2010 9:58 AM CDT
Branson's name will go down in history. I admire his spirit.

 
Richard Branson • space tourism • Virgin Galactic • SpaceShipTwo • space travel • spacecraft • spaceship

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